Tire buffing apparatus with belt detection system

Abstract

A tire buffing apparatus for a tire casing having a plurality of steel belts arranged therein is provided. The tire buffing apparatus including a hub assembly for supporting and rotating a tire casing and a rasp assembly including a rotatable rasp for buffing a tire casing. A tire belt detection system is provided that includes an induction coil element and a sensor. The induction coil element is configured and arranged in relation to the hub assembly such that when the induction coil element is connected to an AC power source, the induction coil element induces a current in the steel belts of a tire casing supported on the hub assembly. The sensor is configured to produce a signal when the rotating rasp is subject to a voltage. A control unit is configured to direct the rasp assembly to stop buffing a tire casing when the sensor produces the signal.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tire buffing apparatus for a tire casing having a plurality of steel belts arranged therein, the tire buffing apparatus comprising;
 a hub assembly for supporting and rotating a tire casing: 
 a rasp assembly including a rotatable rasp for buffing a tire casing supported on the hub assembly; 
 a belt detection system including:
 an induction coil element that is connectable to an AC power source, the induction coil element being configured and arranged in relation to the hub assembly such that when the induction coil element is connected to an AC power source, the induction coil element induces a current in the steel belts of a tire casing supported on the hub assembly; and 
 a sensor arranged and configured to produce a first signal when the rotating rasp is subject to a voltage; and 
 
 a control unit in communication with the sensor and configured to direct the rasp assembly to stop buffing a tire casing supported on the hub assembly when the sensor produces the first signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 1  further including a positioning assembly for selectively moving the rasp assembly relative to the hub assembly so as to bring the rasp into engagement with a tire casing supported on the hub assembly. 
     
     
       3. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the control unit communicates with the positioning assembly and is configured to direct the positioning assembly to move the rasp out of engagement with a tire casing supported on the hub assembly when the sensor produces the first signal. 
     
     
       4. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the control unit is configured to direct the rasp assembly to stop rotation of the rasp when the sensor produces the first signal. 
     
     
       5. The tire buffing according to  claim 1  wherein the control unit is configured to direct the rasp assembly to stop rotation of the rasp when the sensor produces the first signal. 
     
     
       6. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 1  further including a base for supporting the rasp assembly and the hub assembly and wherein the induction coil element is arranged on the base. 
     
     
       7. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 1  further including an AC power source. 
     
     
       8. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 7  further including an electrical enclosure and wherein the control unit is arranged in the electrical enclosure and the induction coil communicates with the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
       9. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the rasp assembly is configured so as to be electrically isolated from the induction coil. 
     
     
       10. A tire buffing apparatus for a tire casing having a plurality of steel belts arranged therein, the tire buffing apparatus comprising;
 a hub assembly for supporting and rotating a tire casing: 
 a rasp assembly including a rotatable rasp for buffing a tire casing supported on the hub assembly; 
 a positioning assembly for selectively moving the rasp assembly relative to the hub assembly so as to bring the rasp into engagement with a tire casing supported on the hub assembly; 
 a belt detection system including:
 an induction coil element that is connectable to an AC power source, the induction coil element being configured and arranged in relation to the hub assembly such that when the induction coil element is connected to an AC power source, the induction coil element induces a current in the steel belts of a tire casing supported on the hub assembly; and 
 a sensor arranged and configured to produce a first signal when the rotating rasp is subject to a voltage; and 
 
 a control unit in communication with the sensor, the rasp assembly and the positioning assembly and configured to direct the rasp assembly to stop rotation of the rasp and the positioning assembly to move the rasp out of engagement with a tire casing supported on the hub assembly when the sensor produces the first signal. 
 
     
     
       11. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 10  further including a base for supporting the rasp assembly and the hub assembly and wherein the induction coil element is arranged on the base. 
     
     
       12. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 10  further including an AC power source. 
     
     
       13. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 10  further including an electrical enclosure and wherein the control unit is arranged in the electrical enclosure and the induction coil communicates with the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
       14. The tire buffing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the rasp assembly is configured so as to be electrically isolated from the induction coil. 
     
     
       15. A method for buffing a tire casing comprising the steps of:
 supporting a tire casing having a plurality of steel belts arranged therein on a hub assembly; 
 bringing a rotating rasp into engagement with the tire casing on the hub assembly to buff the tire casing; 
 inducing an electric current in the steel belts of the tire casing with an induction coil element; 
 sensing when a voltage is applied to the rasp; and 
 stopping the rasp from buffing the tire casing when a voltage is sensed on the rasp. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of stopping the rasp from buffing the tire casing is performed by stopping rotation of the rasp. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of stopping the rasp from buffing the tire casing is performed by moving the rasp out of engagement with the tire casing. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of stopping the rasp from buffing the tire casing is performed by stopping rotation of the rasp and moving the rasp out of engagement with the tire casing. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of inducing an electric current in the steel belts of the tire casing with an induction coil element includes connecting the induction coil element to an AC power source. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 15  further including the step of rotating the tire casing on the hub assembly.